Sunderland set to sign Scottish Premiership keeper as new goalkeeper coach

The Stadium of Light ahead of the Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at the Stadium Of Light, Sunderland, England on 2 January 2017. Photo by Craig Doyle.

Sunderland are looking at bringing in goalkeeper Craig Samson in from SPL side St Mirren as their new goalkeeper coach, according to the Scottish Sun.

Sunderland’s former goalkeeper coach Jimmy Walker recently swapped the Stadium of Light for Portman Road, joining up with Paul Lambert at Ipswich Town. As their replacement, Black Cats manager Jack Ross is eyeing up one of his former players, Craig Samson of St Mirren.

However, the 34-year-old is still playing, and playing frequently. After playing in every single game in The Buddies’ promotion winning season under now Sunderland manager Jack Ross, he has continued to hold onto the starting goalkeeper position, making 17 appearances so far in the 2018/19 season.

The 2017/18 league winning season was a record-breaking one for Samson, breaking a club record run of home clean sheets, keeping eight in a row at St Mirren Park.

The experienced Scotsman only signed a new deal in May 2018, running through to the summer of 2020. However, it is believed that Samson has agreed with St Mirren manager Oran Kearney that he will retire and swap Scotland for Sunderland to become goalkeeper coach for the League One side.

The news will come as sad news for St Mirren fans, with Samson a firm fans favourite in the eyes of The Saints faithful. The news it not only sad for fans, but surprising, with their starting ‘keeper hanging up his gloves and departing mid-season.